Cirrhosis - LFTs - Glucose

[GoofyDad]

I'm diagnosed with 'early cirrhosis'. Six mos post treatment and virus free, my ALT/AST is 31/26. Here's what my docs says in response to my inquiry:

<i>I'm happy with the current enzyme levels.  Teens would be ideal but 20's is fine as well. I think you have a good chance of reversal of damage as I don't think your liver has passed "the point of no return".  Time, of course, will tell.</i>

I'm posting this because we have a few of us with similar damage levels and it might be of interest to the others. "The point of no return". It has an ominous ring, don't it?

Also, a question for the gang about glucose. Mine is right on the cusp of out of range to the high side. When does it become an issue? Should I be concerned now? Should I be working on eliminating all refined sugar from the diet? What else?

[FlGuy]

Thanks some more.  I'll bark up the doc's tree although he has his office decorated in a motiff that you'd have to describe as 'Modern Schering'.  It's kind of funny, maybe ironic - my wife works in a urologist's and brings home sample of Levitra, Viagra and Cialis. Maybe she's due for a career change.

[jmjm530]

Pham programs are based on income only, not on assets. I also hear they are flexible. Worth the call. Is it possible for your doctor to get some samples from the Roache rep -- especially since your insurance is paying for the motherload? Another thought -- and I know you probably don't want to see more doctors -- is to seek out a doctor who buys into the double-dosing theory and is located at a larger, teaching hospital. They often have "stashes" of drugs for this very purpose. Schiff in Miami, Dieterich in NY and Afdahl in Boston come to mind. Of the three, I've read Dieterich double-doses Pegasys, not sure about the others.

[FlGuy]

Thanks again.
When did you DD? 2 Shots same day or like a Tuesday-Friday timing?

[jmjm530]

I'd double-dose the first four weeks -- or up to 12 weeks if necessary with weekly PCRs-- and focus on getting non-detectible as soon as possible -- assuming you and your doc buy into the double-dosing theory and studies. Deal with the rest later.

-- Jim

[FlGuy]

Thanks for the comments.  I'm having some difficulty with Insurance just getting 48 weeks approved. It will happen, the ins. just wants more documents.   With the liverhead saying if not clear at 4, then go 72 I could have insurance risk later.  It is my intent to get to und by 4.  In fact, if I get to und at week 4 I'll have some out options at 40 or 42 - maybe which can absorb the double use early on in tx.  If I DD for four weeks, I'll have to wait 4 weeks to start to make sure the Specialty Pharmacy 'thinks' that I have used 4 weekly syringes in order not to mess up the order re-fill process which occurs at 4 week interval.   Almost too confusing to keep track of.  I don't think I'd qualify for the Pharm programs.

I have a couple of theories on skin issues.  I haven't had any but I was on PegIntron/800 riba for 24 weeks.  Like anemia problems and riba, I think there's more to skin issues than IFN alone and also believe that 'longer and stronger' tx is THE culprit.  That's the reason I copied all your skin info from J&F.  So, I might prove the theory sometime.  But I also think that living in Florida makes a difference.  Even in Winter we don't have a real dry environment and althogh sun seems to be a skin bogey at times, I think sun in the right proportions has theraputic value. I'm just glad I don't have that problem and feel bad for those who do.

Thanks Jim

[jmjm530]

Just to clarify, the reason my doc started double-dosing me in week 2 (as opposed from week 1) is because I switched doctors after week 1 and therefore he wasn't my doctor then.